The visit was part of a tour that Allan is undertaking to find out more about the impact that Rotarians in the 1110 District - which covers most of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, and parts of Dorset and Wiltshire - have had in their local communities and further afield.

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome Allan and some of our wonderful local Rotarians, and to able to have a picture taken with the 'Jane Talk' Sitting With Jane bookbench that Basingstoke Deane Rotarians very generously sponsored, and subsequently bought at the Sitting With Jane auction in 2017. The bookbench is currently in the reception area of the Radiotherapy Unit at Basingstoke hospital, and it will eventually have a permanent home in the new cancer treatment centre when this is built on the hospital site.

"Supporting the Sitting With Jane project, which raised £70,000 for Ark, is just one of the many ways that local Rotarians have made a massive difference to Ark's £5million appeal. Their ongoing support, and that of other Rotarians in District 1110, is crucial as the charity continues to make progress towards raising £5million which will provide vital complementary and supportive services in the new centre."